SHARES in north west accountancy group Stepquick fell more than four per cent after it published interim pre-tax profits of é128,000. The shares sliped 2p to 45.5p after the update.

Chairman Ged Cosgrove said turnover in the six months to December 31 was é2.38m, in line with expectations. There is no interim dividend.

Stepquick, which floated in October 2003, includes Worsley practice Champion.

PROFESSIONAL services group Tenon, which has 233 staff across four north west offices, has posted a 26 per cent rise in half-year profits.

Turnover in the six months to the end of December grew 24 per cent, from é38.7m to é47.8m, while profits came in at é4.2m against é3.4m.

Tenon's performance in the north west, where turnover rose to é13m, was boosted by the acquisition of its franchise operation based in Rochdale and Bacup for é4.4m and Parkers, of Fallowfield, Manchester, for é330,000.

ECCLES-based Community Broking Group, the listed insurance broker and financial adviser, has posted pre-tax profits of é444,000 for 2004 on turnover of é2.37m. The company made three acquisitions last year - Manchester city centre financial planning outfit Carpenter Rees Jackson, Bury-based Cloughley Insurance Services and MVA Healthcare.

Group chairman David Worsley, who announced he is stepping down to a non-executive role so he can pursue other interests, said turnover grew organically by 11.3 per cent and by 57.4 per cent overall. Pre-tax profits were up 45 per cent. He added: "We remain bullish in our growth strategy and look forward to what we hope will be another progressive year."

Mr Worsley's replacement as chairman is Laurie Turnbull, a director of venture capital company Texas Holdings, which owns 14 per cent of CBG.

The group's board has been strengthened by the appointment of Stephen Jackson, formerly of Carpenter Rees Jackson. He is responsible for CBG's financial planning businesses. Also, Robin Slinger, a former director of corporate banking at NatWest, joined last October.